I want Nayanthara remark sparks row at Tamil Nadu women safety rally
I want Nayanthara remark sparks row at Tamil Nadu women safety rally
A Tamil Nadu MP's provocative remark during a women’s safety protest triggers backlash from film bodies and sharp political exchanges ahead of polls.
A row erupted in Villupuram when AIADMK MP CV Shanmugam, a former state minister, quipped I want Nayanthara during a protest against the DMK dispensation, drawing sharp criticism from the film industry and opposition. He noted such remarks were not new, mentioning past instances where similar comments led to legal action, though one case was later quashed by the high court. He called such behavior a disgrace to politics and criticized the AIADMK for allowing it to continue.
The controversy comes as campaigns intensify ahead of the Tamil Nadu state elections. State minister S Regupathy accused AIADMK and BJP of creating a misleading narrative on women safety. He challenged AIADMK to present comparative statistics on murder rates during the AIADMK regime versus the DMK government and highlighted measures to protect the confidentiality of women filing complaints.
BJP leader Vanathi Srinivasan questioned the government's record, alleging rising crimes against women and criticizing the administration for not addressing the issue adequately. AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami also targeted the DMK government, accusing it of failing to maintain law and order and raising concerns about alleged drug sales near schools and unresolved criminal cases.
The South Indian Film Artistes Association SIAA strongly condemned the remarks as derogatory and shameful and demanded an apology from Shanmugam. The association said it had seen comments that demean actor Nayanthara.
The controversy underscores the fraught political debate over women safety in Tamil Nadu as polls approach, with both sides trading accusations and calls for accountability.
In the backdrop, the government says it has measures to protect women, while critics say crimes against women are rising, making the issue a flashpoint in the campaign.
